...on more topics than any one person could reasonably have an interest in.

Apr. 5th, 2012

I note with sadness the passing of the man variously and affectionately referred to as the Guv'nor and the Father of Loud - Jim Marshall, founder of that bastion of rock, Marshall Amplification.

If ever it could be said of someone he got where he was by standing on the shoulders of giants, Jim Marshall was probably that man. Marshall valve amps, by his own admission, were based on Fender circuits which were in turn based on the example circuits in the original data books for the valves used, but Marshall the company added to that an attention to build quality and customer service that made their amps second to none.

I've owned a Marshall valve head - a friend once described it as a one-trick pony, but added the caveat, with a massive grin as he hit another face-meltingly awesome power chord, "It's one hell of a trick".